Crash test dummies have been taking hits for decades in order to supply important data on occupant safety. Although they’re designed and manufactured to closely resemble the human body in structure and mass (including the skeleton), there is one human quality that has been overlooked: anticipation of a crash. Most people brace for the impact if they realise a crash is imminent.
On the fifth iteration of its Thums dummy, Toyota has added a muscle-modelling feature that simulates the body attitude of vehicle occupants, from relaxed to braced, which allows for more detailed computer analysis of the injuries collisions can cause. This means the performance of the seatbelts, airbags and other safety equipment can be optimised with more focus on pre-collision systems like seatbelt pre-tensioners.
Thums was born in 2002 and received updates over the years that have included face and bones in 2004, a precise brain model in 2006 and detailed modelling of internal organs in 2010.
